1. Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers responsible for Gender/Women's Affairs held their Sixth Annual Meeting on 27-28 May, 2002 in Swakopmund, Namibia.  The meeting was attended by Government Ministers from Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  Seychelles, Lesotho and Tanzania were represented by Senior Officials.
2. Also in attendance were representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Regional Women Parliamentary Caucus (RWPC), Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA), Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF) and the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC).
3. The meeting was officially opened by the Prime Minister of Namibia, Hage Geingob, who noted that, despite the commitment and considerable progress made by SADC Member States in the achievement of gender equality in recent decades, discrimination on the basis of sex still exists in many aspects of life including, economic life.  Prime Minister Geingob observed that when women meet their full potential, entire societies and communities will benefit; families will be more prosperous and children will have a far brighter future.  He called upon SADC Member States to take steps to address gender imbalances in access to resources and leadership positions, as well as to focus on the scourge of HIV/AIDA.
4. The Official Opening Session was addressed also by Minister for Women Affairs and Child Welfare of Namibia, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who brought the attention of the meeting to the challenges confronting the Committee of Ministers Responsible for Gender/Women's Affairs in SADC.  The Regional Governor of Erongo Region, Samuel Nuyoma welcomed delegates to Swakopmund.
5. Senior Programme Officer for Gender at the SADC Secretariat, Athaliah Molokomme, presented the objectives of the meeting and highlighted the status of the implementation of the Regional Gender Plan of Action.  The Deputy Executive Secretary of SADC, Albert, M. Muchanga delivered a statement focusing on the restructuring of SADC and its implications for the policy and institutional framework for gender in SADC.
6. The Minister for Women and Coordination of Social Action of Mozambique, Virgilia Matabele, outgoing Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers, offered a vote of thanks.
7. The meeting encouraged SADC Member States to actively participate in the Women in Business (WIB-SADC) Trade Fair and Investment Forum from 04 to 10 June 2002, at Chichiri Trade Fair Grounds in Blantyre, Malawi.  Ministers decided that the Trade Fair and Investment Forum be held every two years and requested Member States to offer to host the next one in 2004.
8. On the restructuring of SADC institutions, Ministers recommended to Council that a Sub-Committee of the Integrated Committee of Ministers (ICM) consisting of Ministers for Gender be established to ensure that gender issues are adequately mainstreamed into the work of the ICM.
9. Ministers noted the development by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) of a Draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, on the Rights of Women in Africa.  They undertook to liaise with their Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice to expedite finalisation of national positions on the Protocol.  A meeting of SADC Member States will be held shortly before the next OAU meeting of Experts, in order to prepare a SADC position on the Protocol.
10. Ministers recalled that the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development requires the attainment of a minimum target of 30% women in politics and decision-making in SADC at all levels.  Following a directive from the SADC Summit, Ministers will ensure that a report on the mechanisms that Member States have put in place to meet this target is prepared for presentation to the next SADC Summit in Angola, September, 2002.
11. With respect to the imminent launch of the African Union, Ministers noted that this presents an opportunity to mainstream gender at the continental level.  Ministers urged Member States to make inputs into this process, to ensure that the commitments made in the 1997 SADC Declaration on Gender and Development, the 1998 Addendum and other Regional and International instruments are carried through to the continental level.
12. On the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the meeting encouraged SADC Member States to take a keen interest in this process, with a view to ensuring that a gender perspective is adopted in line with regional and international instruments.  In addition, gender equality and equity indicators should be mainstreamed into the Implementation Plan of NEPAD.
13. Ministers congratulated the Regional Women's Parliamentary Caucus, following its historic launch in Luanda, Angola on 12 April, 2002.
14. Ministers expressed concern at the food shortages in some countries of the region and noted that, many of those affected are women and children.  The meeting acknowledged the steps which Member States and SADC have taken in response and urged them to coordinate their efforts at a regional level.
15. The meeting noted with concern the impact of HIV/AIDS on the SADC region and the increasing number of orphans and other vulnerable groups.  Ministers emphasised the need for Member States to share information and strategies in response.
16. Ministers expressed their solidarity with the Government and People of Mozambique following the recent tragic rain accident in the country, which resulted in the loss of nearly 200 lives.
17. Ministers sent a message of condolences to the Government and People of Botswana, as well as the family of the former First Lady of Botswana, Lady Ruth Khama, who passed away on 23 May, 2002.
18. On receiving a report that the First Lady of Namibia, Madam Nujoma, had been taken ill and hospitalised in Frankfurt, Germany, the meeting sent a message wishing her a speedy recovery.
19. Ministers congratulated the Government and People of Angola on the signing of the peace agreement on 04 April, 2002 and expressed hope that this would bring lasting peace and prosperity to the country.
20. Ministers sent a message of congratulations to 'Mathabiso Lepono, former member of their Committee, following her successful election as Member of Parliament during the on-going Lesotho general elections.
21. The meeting elected Namibia as the incoming Chair of their Committee and thanked Mozambique for chairing the Committee during the past year.
22. The meeting thanked the Government and People of Namibia for their warm hospitality and the excellent arrangements that ensured the success of the meeting.   

by:  SADC Secretariat;  Swakopmund  -  28 May 2002